The Shimmer Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
shimmermods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
theshimmer2020-08-08 11:35 pm
shimmermods) wrote in theshimmer2020-08-08 11:35 pm
WEEK FOUR
FOURTH WEEK
The Shimmer may have left you physically, but it's always with you; it's something it had insisted on yesterday, and it's something that continues to be pervasive even now, both in thoughts and within you in other, perhaps more noticeable ways. The statements that have been made weigh heavily; your surroundings continue to be influenced by something or other - plants you recognize are still present here, even as the trees themselves continue to crystallize, growing glassy white and transparent around mechanical insides - and the changes to your physical bodies are becoming more evident and difficult to ignore.
Perhaps more disturbingly, when you went to sleep in the clearing there were sixteen of you.
When you wake up, there are fifteen.
No matter how many headcounts you take, you keep coming up one short; the fact of the matter is that Rean Schwarzer is no longer among you. There's no visible evidence of where he's gone, and all of his belongings are still here; perhaps in some part of your mind, the possibility registers itself - maybe he's not with you because he went to the Shimmer. Not in the same way the cultists went, and not in the same way the ring of bodies seems to have gone, but maybe...
The thought is difficult to shake; the fact of the matter is that he isn't here, and you probably don't want to stay here. After all, your options are currently either to do what you set out to do, to return to the base and very possibly be killed for your efforts, or to remain here with the corpses.
The hike uphill is steep; perhaps it's fortunate that you're no longer tiring out like you used to. It's easier to keep going nowadays, even if it feels somewhat mechanical in doing so; your limbs know what they're doing, even if there's some reason for your mind to disagree. You seem to be making good time in moving toward the site of the initial impact of the meteorite; perhaps it won't be much longer before you find your objective.
That is, if all goes according to plan.
SUNDAY | MONDAY |
TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY | FRIDAY
Perhaps more disturbingly, when you went to sleep in the clearing there were sixteen of you.
When you wake up, there are fifteen.
No matter how many headcounts you take, you keep coming up one short; the fact of the matter is that Rean Schwarzer is no longer among you. There's no visible evidence of where he's gone, and all of his belongings are still here; perhaps in some part of your mind, the possibility registers itself - maybe he's not with you because he went to the Shimmer. Not in the same way the cultists went, and not in the same way the ring of bodies seems to have gone, but maybe...
The thought is difficult to shake; the fact of the matter is that he isn't here, and you probably don't want to stay here. After all, your options are currently either to do what you set out to do, to return to the base and very possibly be killed for your efforts, or to remain here with the corpses.
The hike uphill is steep; perhaps it's fortunate that you're no longer tiring out like you used to. It's easier to keep going nowadays, even if it feels somewhat mechanical in doing so; your limbs know what they're doing, even if there's some reason for your mind to disagree. You seem to be making good time in moving toward the site of the initial impact of the meteorite; perhaps it won't be much longer before you find your objective.
That is, if all goes according to plan.
no subject
[He’s eyeing all the trees poking out everywhere and the dubious structural integrity of the buildings, but it’s probably fine to scope it out from the outside first, too.
He’ll have to keep an eye out for any signs of activity, even if it is more likely to be mostly wildlife.]
We should... stick together a little more.
[I mean, with the vanishment and all. Also some kind of Shimmer-kin floating around out there. Exploration just gets better and better.]
no subject
[Things could happen in an instant, it seems. The moment you took your eyes off of someone...]
The radar isn't indicating anything other than the usual. I think it's safe to move on, but we should probably go in our usual formation.
no subject
no subject
[Research division and their gadgets! At least something works out here, even if in fits and starts. He nods at Yusei and then shuffles forward a little from where he’s more or less bringing up the rear as per usual.
If he examines some nearby buildings, the ground, the greenery... anything look disturbed? Trails? Unusual markings?
Is this cougar or bear territory, is the real question.]
no subject
no subject
[He shuffles around in his pack (that he has been carrying on his own now!) for his binoculars.
Should we need to secure a building before entering, I might be able to scout with these.]
no subject
[Semi-serious or fully serious? Who knows, but he isn’t a big fan of head trauma all the same, or possibly falling through the floor. Quite apart from the dramatic problems, splinters and potential poison ivy aren’t great, either.
He’s gotten a bit more used to camping, though, and they could both probably move a little more towards the front of the hiking group now, but Jean hasn’t so far.]
But those might help if we can get a good vantage point.
[Can Heinwald climb a tree.]
no subject
[It's doubtful they would protect much if a roof were to collapse on them or something, though. He just wanted to dig at Vitali and Co. for a moment.
When Jean suggests a tree to climb, well... He'll earn a stare for that.]
One of the combatants can do it. I will lend my binoculars to them.
[Wow. Well hey, maybe they won't need to resort to this quite yet.]
no subject
[There’s a quirk of a half-smile on his face — his tone is mild as ever, so it doesn’t come out like a dig, but it’s not particularly an endorsement, either.
Maybe the amused shade in the expression is for Heinwald’s reaction to trees, though. Trees have been a little more trouble than expected on their journey, even without their mutual lack of athleticism.]
I’ll be standing by, then.
[You know, just in case of roof ambushes.]